Preparing for Hurricane Season

By Community Newspapers

With the 2012 hurricane season just weeks away, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) urges its customers to develop a storm plan for their homes or businesses. FPL’s storm plan focuses on readiness, restoration and recovery. If a hurricane strikes its service territory, FPL will work around the clock to restore service safely and as quickly as possible to each and every one of its customers.

Those customers who have moved to Florida since 2005, and who therefore have not personally experienced a hurricane in our state, are especially encouraged to plan for severe weather. Although a lower-than-average storm season is predicted this year, it only takes one storm to cause major devastation. Safety is a cornerstone of our commitment to customers and employees. Below are electricity-related tips to keep you and your family safe during hurricane season.

Before a storm threatens
• Before storm season begins on June 1, have your trees properly trimmed to minimize their potential impact on your home and neighborhood. Make sure debris is cleared prior to a hurricane warning announcement when trash pickup is suspended.
• Do not attempt to trim any vegetation growing on or near any overhead power lines. Only specially trained line-clearing professionals should work around power lines.
• If someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, review your family emergency plan for backup power or make arrangements to relocate when a storm warning is issued.

Preparing for an approaching storm
• Before lowering a TV antenna or satellite dish, make sure to turn off and unplug the TV, and avoid power lines.
• Turn off all swimming pool pumps and filters, and wrap them in waterproof materials.
• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings ahead of time to keep food fresh longer in the event of a power outage.
• Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment.

Portable generator tips
• Never run generators inside your home or garage, as they produce potentially deadly carbon-monoxide fumes.
• Keep generators away from all open windows, including neighbors’ windows, to prevent deadly exhaust from entering a home or business.
• Buy a battery-operated carbon-monoxide alarm, which will alert you if carbon- monoxide levels become dangerous.
• Always thoroughly read the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid dangerous shortcuts and ensure the safe operation of your generator.

Visit www.FPL.com/storm to learn all you can about storm preparedness and post-storm safety.